Nicole M. Flaherty Cropper is an attorney at Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A. in Eden Prairie, where she specializes in trusts and estates. Nicole and her family are members at All Saints Catholic Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, where she grew up. Below, Nicole helps us better understand estate planning by answering your most common questions.
Dear Friends,
Jesus knows us well. He knows our tendency to overcomplicate things, to overload our calendars and overburden our minds. So for our happiness and his glory, he simplified all of religious law and gave us this one directive: love God above all things, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Over the last few months, we’ve witnessed our community embracing the simplicity of the golden rule in new and generous ways.
Thanks to you, the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota was able to grant more than $18M to our community in the 2020 fiscal year. This is only possible with your support. We are so grateful to you.
As we head into the holiday season and you consider your charitable giving for the end of this taxable year, please keep the following in mind.
A good estate plan has the bones to hand down the things you’ve worked hard for in life and to plan a proper funeral. A great estate plan has the brains to consider how your affairs are handled and how assets are distributed. But a Catholic estate plan ensures your legacy lives on — it has a heart. A Catholic […]
The Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) is happy to announce the promotion of Meg Payne Nelson to the newly established role of Vice President of Impact. Meg has served CCF’s mission for the last five years as Program Officer. In her new role as Vice President of Impact, Meg will oversee CCF’s grantmaking strategy, including charity screening, impact goal […]
You’ve likely seen recent reports of record highs in the stock market. We’re officially in a bull market. While many people wait until the end of the year to make philanthropic gifts, now might be an ideal moment to capture record stock prices.
Some of the best tools for planning for retirement are pre-tax retirement accounts. Your income goes directly into these funds, without being taxed, and then grows tax free for years. You don’t have to worry about paying taxes on these accounts until you start withdrawing the money during retirement. But, all good things must come to an end. So, tax law requires that you…
We are thrilled to announce that Bethel Ruest, MBA, has joined the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) as our new senior philanthropic advisor. Bethel brings a wealth of experience in planned giving to CCF and our Catholic community. For more than 20 years, she served Mayo Clinic in Rochester, most recently as assistant director of gift planning, and she sits on the board of directors for the Minnesota Planned Giving Council.
Dear Friends,
You’ve read many letters now, I’m sure, that begin with the words, “In these uncertain times…” In one way or another, we are all struggling with uncertainty; it seems almost every aspect of our lives is now unknown. Coronavirus impacts our health, our families, our work, our ability to participate in the sacraments, our future. As I think about the unknown, I am reminded of the Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue and his poem This Is the Time to Be Slow.…
In mid-March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Minnesota, our daily routines were upended. All corners of the economy were impacted. And in the midst of rapid change and increasing uncertainty, our parishes — the places we turn for comfort, hope, and community — were forced to close their doors to keep staff and parishioners safe.
But church never ceased.